asbury



H. E. ASBURY.

v V Patented July 29, 19M).

V2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

max i'.

H, E. ASBURY.

`HAND GRENADE.

APPLICATION FgLED JUNE l5. 1911.

- Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HARRY E. .ASBUBY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAND-GRENADE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application med'June 15, 1917. serial No. 174,890.

lmechanism for the ring pin, and an 1mproved form of fuse holder; the latter being arranged to vent freely to the atmosphere and avoid all danger of accidental explosion due to defective fuses.

These andother features of my invention are more fully describedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying draw-- ings, in which:

Figure 1, is a sectional view on the line -L Fig. 2.

Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view on the line AH-II, Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3, is a sectional plan view on the`line.

lll-III, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a sectional plan view on the line IV-I`V, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, is an elevation partly in section,"

showing the tiring pin re eased, and

Fig.` 6, is an inverted lan view of the grenade illustrating a detall of my invention.

1n the drawings, 1 represents, on a slightly enlarged scale, the shell of a hand4 grenade of suitable size and weight, which may be made of cast metal, iron or steel, as may be desired, which shell is preferably scored or grooved externally, as indicated at 2 and 3 in the several views, so that upon bursting, due to explosion of any contained charge, the shell will be separated into a large mass of fragments. This shell is provided with a loading opening 4, normal y closed by a screw plug 5, which may be disposed at any convenient oint, but preferably middle of t e shell and at a point opposite i the position of the detonating cap, as herein- 50 after described.

Within the shell a casing 6 is mounted, having a chamber 7 for the receptlon of a tiring pin 8, to which motion may be transmitted by a coiled spring 9 when the firing pin is released; such sprmg being normally about the.

compressed and retained between a fixed part of the grenade and a shoulder 10 on said firing pin by means hereinafter described.

Within the shell, shoulders 12 and 13, are provided at opposite ends of the same, and in engagement with these shoulders are plates 14 and 15; the plate 14 being confined to the casing 6 by displacing the metal of the latter with respect to said plate 14, while the plate 15 is held to the casing 6 by means of a collar '16 threaded into said casing at 17 and having a shoulder 18 bearin upon said plate 15.. The casin thus held 1s disposed substantially central y with respect to the main shell.

The ends of the shell are closed by caps 19 and 20. rThe cap 19 is provided with an opening 21, and interposed between said cap and the plate 14 is a block 22, to which a fuse 23 is secured` and which leads into a detonating cap 24. Said block also receives an anvil member 25 threaded in to the block,

as indicated at 26; said anvil member receiving a primer cap 27 and engaging at the bottom a corrugated washer 28, which conlines the split end of the fuse to a seat 29 in said block 22. This arrangement of anvil member and the manner of securing the split end of the fuse in place therein is substantially similar to that disclosed in myprior application, Serial No. 7 9,140; said anvil member being provided with grooves 30, serving as vents.

It will be noted that a complete wall of metal lies between the anvil member in which the primary cap is exploded, and the fuse leading to the detonating cap. I also prefer to interpose a metal washer 31 between the block 22 and the plate 14 to prevent absolutely all danger of gases passing from the casing 6 to the fuse or the detonating cap when the primer cap is exploded. This metal washer ma be set in a recess 33 in the block 22, if deslred.

The lblock receiving the time fuse is open,

as'indicated at 22a, in line with the opening in the closing plug of the shell in order that any defect in a fuse which might cause a preliminary explosion or blow-out, may pass directly to the atmosphere without endangering the life of the person about to hurl the grenade. Normally, this space will be filled with a suitable waterproofing material, such as paran, wax or the like, indicated at 34, suiiicient to protect-thefuse from da-nlpness or moisture but not preventing proper venting of the fuse in case defects should cause it to blowout at anypoint between the split end held between the anvil member and the block 22, and the detonating cap.

In order to position the block 22,- the plate 14' is preferably provided with a guiding pin 35, and-said block may be apertured at 36 for the reception, thereof..

The cap 2O at the opposite end of the shell, which is threaded into the same and. contacts with the plate 15 is provided centrally with a movable member 38, normally arranged with other means to be described, for holding the firing pin in the inactive position; such position being inward with respect to said cap 20, and the `member y38 being held in place'by a safety catch in the form of a pin 39 having a head 40 engaging the flange 41 of said member 38 against the action of a spring 42 tending to withdraw said safety pin. lPrior to use, the. safety pin is retained in position by a Cotter pin 43, passing through the cap 20 and which may engage the shouldered head 40 of said pin 39 in the manner indicated in the drawings.

For the purpose of holding the firing pin 8 out of action, balls 45, which may be of the usual anti-friction type common to ball bearings, are interposed between a rounded groove 46 adjacent the end of the firing pin and an inclosing wall 47 carried by the movable member 38. As long as said member is held in the position indicated in Fig. l, with the safety pin 39 in place, the firing pin 8 will be held in the inactive position. Then the safety pin 39 is released, which may be accomplished by removing th'e cot- Y ter pin 43 'and then slightly depressing the movable member 38, to permit displacement of the head 40 of said pin 39, the grenade is ready to be ired, and upon the release of the finger from said member 38 in the act of throwing` the grenade, it will be forced outwardly by la s ring 48 adapted to an internal recess of t e same and confined between the same and said firing pin. This actionremoves the inclosing wall 47 forthe balls holding the firing pin in the inactive position so that the spring 9 can come into ac` tion; the balls being thrown to one side and the firing pin being forced into contact with the primer cap '27 'which iguites the fuse in the usual manner to explode the charge.

W'ithin the chamber of the shell of the grenade, the explosive material is placed, and this may be in the form of alsolid block of 4explosive material, as indicated at 50, centrally-apertured at 51 to receive the cas` ing 6, and having a recess 52 adjacent the aperture but not passing entirely through the block to accommodate the detonating cap.' This recess should be long enough .to

accommodate the longest cap and, therefore the greatest timing possible in the use of this structure.

Any suitable explosive material may be I pin, and means for actuating said tiring.

pin, of aplurality of balls in engagement with said tiring pin, an outwardly movable member having -a wall inclosing said balls, a. .spring for actuating said movable member to release the ball, locking means for said.

movable member, and means for automatically releasing said locking means. v

2. In a hand grenade, the combination with a. shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin, and means for actuating said tiring pin, of a plurality ofballs in engagement with said firing pin, an outwardly movable mem ber having a wall inclosing said balls whereby the same may hold the iiring pin inactive, a spring for actuating said movable member to release the balls; said movable member having 4a flange, a locking bolt in engagement with the {iange of said movable inember, and means for automatically releasing saidlocking bolt.

3. In a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap,.a1iring pinand means for 'actuating said firing pin, of removable closuresv for the ends ofsaid shell, one of said closures being apertured, a recessed block located within the apertured closure, and a time fuse carriedby the block within its recess; said fusebeing carried by said block in position open to the atmosphere through the apertured closure whereby complete venting of defective ignition of such fuse may be effected.

4. ,In a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a 'ring pin, and means for actuating said firing pin` of removable closures for the ends of said shell, one of said closures being apertured, diaphragms or platesseparating the chamber of the grenade for an explosive charge from said closures, ia block interposed between the apertured closure and one of said plates, and a time fuse carried by the block; said 'fuse being carried by the block in position open to the atmosphere through the apertured closure whereby, complete venting of defective ignition of such fuse may be eiiected.

5. In a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a lirsaid shell, one of' said closures being apertured, diaphragms or'plates separati'ng'thel space for the explosive charge from said closures, a block interposed between the apertured closure and one of Said plates, a j

..1ngp'1n, and meansforgactuating said ir.

time fuse, said block adapted tol receive the end of said time fuse andbeing open te the aperture in the closure whereby completeventing of defective ignition of such fuse may be effected, and moisture-proof means for inclosing the exposed portion of said time fuse. v

6. ln a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin, and meansfor-actuating said tiring pin, of removable 'closures for the ends of said shell, one of said closures being apertured, diaphragms or plates separating'the space for the explosive charge fromy said closures, a block interposed between the apertured closure and one of said plates, a time fuse, said block adapted to receive the end of said time fuse and being open to the aperture in the' closure whereby complete venting of defective ignition of such fuse may be effected, removable means for securing;- the ignition end of said time fuse in place, a percussion cap carried thereby, and moisture-prooil means for inclosing the exposed portion of said time fuse.

7. In a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin, and means for actuating said firing pin, of removable closures for the ends of said shell, one of said closures bein apertured, diaphragms or plates separating the space for the explosive charge from said closures, a -block interposed between the apertured closure and one of said plates, a time fuse, saidbloch adapted to receive the end of said time fuse and being open to the aperture in the cap wherebycomplete venting of defective ignition of such fuse may be' effected, and a sealing washer disposed between the block and the adjacent diaphragm orpla'te'.-

8. ln a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin, ofremovable closures for the ends lof said shell, one of 'said closures being apertured, diaphragmsor plates-separating the space for the explosive charge from said closures, a casing for the'ring pin disposed between said diaphragms or plates, ablock interposed betweeny the ap'er'tured closure and one of fsaidplates, a time fuse, said block adapted to. receive and retain the end of the time fuse and being open to the aper- /ture in the closure .whereby complete venting of defective ignition may be effected, and a solid block of explosive material apertured for the passage of the casing nclosing the firing pin and recessed to receive the detonati'ng. cap. I Y I 9. ln a hand grenade, the combination with a shell having a detonating cap, a firing pin, and means for actuating said firing pin of removable closures for the ends o sai shell, one of said closures being apertured, diaphragme; or plates separating the space for the explosive charge'from said closures, a block interposed between the apertured closure and one of said plates, 'a time fuse, said block adapted to receive the end of the time fuse and being open to the aperture in the closure whereby complete venting of defective ignition may be effected, and the diaphragm adjacent thereto being apertured for the passage of the detonating ca and means for positioning said 'block with respect to said diaphragm.

HARRY E. ASBURY. 

